diff --git a/api/db/services/document_service.py b/api/db/services/document_service.py
index 41a528dda..b0527c646 100644
--- a/api/db/services/document_service.py
+++ b/api/db/services/document_service.py
@@ -675,8 +675,7 @@ class DocumentService(CommonService):
                 if k not in old:
                     old[k] = v
                     continue
-                if isinstance(v, dict):
-                    assert isinstance(old[k], dict)
+                if isinstance(v, dict) and isinstance(old[k], dict):
                     dfs_update(old[k], v)
                 else:
                     old[k] = v
@@ -863,11 +862,9 @@ class DocumentService(CommonService):
                 key = upd.get("key")
                 if not key:
                     continue
-                if key not in meta:
-                    meta[key] = upd.get("value")
 
                 new_value = upd.get("value")
-                match_provided = "match" in upd
+                match_provided = upd.get("match")
                 if key not in meta:
                     if match_provided:
                         continue
@@ -880,7 +877,7 @@ class DocumentService(CommonService):
                         if isinstance(new_value, list):
                             meta[key] = dedupe_list(new_value)
                         else:
-                            meta[key] = new_value
+                            meta[key].append(new_value)
                         changed = True
                     else:
                         match_value = upd.get("match")